Mice and other pest infestations affect a vast majority of American homes every year. But mice aren’t just a nuisance. They can cause numerous health problems for you and your family.
Here are some signs that a mouse infestation has begun in your home:
Smells
Are there foreign smells wafting through your home? Tiny puddles of mouse urine could be the reason why. Newly deposited mouse urine smells a bit like ammonia. If the urine has fermented, it can start to smell like damp wood.
Newly deposited mouse urine smells a bit like ammonia. If the urine has fermented, it can start to smell like damp wood.
Unless you have a very large mouse infestation in your home, this smell is likely to be subtle. However, a licensed pest control professional is trained to recognize these smells and can use them to help find problem areas in your home.
Droppings and Urine
Flash a blacklight in areas where you encounter these smells. If you see dark splotches on your floor, that’s urine. You might see them trailing in and out of your pantry or other food storage area.
Droppings are much easier to spot with the naked eye. They are about the size of rice, and will likely be present near food. The more droppings you see, the more mice you have in your home.
Sounds
Depending on the severity of your infestation, you may be able to actually hear the mice in your home if you listen hard enough. Mice are primarily active at night, so try to listen for squeaking, scratching, or shuffling after it gets dark.
If you start to see or hear your mice during the day, then it is likely that you have a major rodent problem on your hands.
Bite Marks
Check your kitchen for signs of chewing. These bites are likely to be extremely tiny, but after a while, the mice may burrow them into holes.
Does your bag of rice have tiny holes in it? Do the cereal boxes on your counter seem slightly ripped in odd places? Your cabinets may even have scratches and bite marks on them.
Nests
The longer mice are in your home, the more likely it is that they will try to build little nests to live in. Mice love to feel covered and enclosed, so these nests will probably be made of soft materials.
Look for them near sources of food. Small piles of material, grass, or loose strings are a dead giveaway.
Mice are also known to hoard their food in areas that they consider to be away from danger. Watch out for crumbs and small food particles near these nests. They are usually surrounded by droppings or urine trails.
Fight Back Against Your Mouse Infestation!
Mice are tiny creatures, but their presence can be seriously detrimental to your health. If you have an infestation, you may already be feeling some of these negative effects.
It is imperative that you consult a professional pest control service to take care of your rodent problem before it gets out of hand.
Contact us to schedule a free inspection today!
